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IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Release No: 591-00September 26, 2000

PROPOSED FOREIGN MILITARY SALE TO BAHRAIN ANNOUNCED

The government of Bahrain has requested a possible sale of 30 Guided Missile and Launching Assemblies M39 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, software upgrade to the Multiple Launched Rocket System, U.S. government and contractor engineering and logistics services and technical assistance, U.S. government quality assurance team (QAT), publications and technical data, cooperative logistics supply support arrangement, special test sets and support equipment, maintenance support repairable material and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $51 million.

This proposed sale is consistent with the stated U.S. policy of assisting friendly nations to provide for their own defense by allowing the transfer of reasonable amounts of defense articles and services.

Bahrain will use these ATACMS to enhance their area fire system capability against hostile artillery, air defense and maneuver elements thereby strengthening their self-defense capability and interoperability with U.S. forces. ATACMS mounts on the multiple launch rocket system launcher, which Bahrain previously purchased and, therefore, will have no difficulty absorbing these additional systems capabilities.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Dallas, Texas. There are no offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment in-country of a U.S. government quality assurance team and one contractor representative for a week to accomplish the initial deployment.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.